Dalata Hotel Group signs MOU with ATU’s Galway International Hotel School to develop ATU-accredited training programmes for Dalata employees

Dalata agreed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Galway International Hotel School (GIHS) which provides courses for the tourism sector. The agreement will see Dalata, through its own training academic, facilitate flexible learning modules accredited by ATU. The MOU was signed in Galway by ATU President Dr Orla Flynn and Head of the Dalata Academy Áine Doyle. While both parties have worked together for some time, this agreement will see them develop industry-focused programmes for Dalata employees.

President of ATU Dr Orla Flynn says: “Relationships with employers and engagement with industry have always been core strengths of the ATU legacy institutes, and I’m glad to see these continuing to be prioritised as we embark on our technological university journey. The tourism sector has significant importance in the west and northwest of Ireland, and ATU’s partnership with the Dalata Hotel Group underlines our commitment to both the industry and the region.”

Áine Doyle, Head of the Dalata Academy, says: “Growing our people and developing their careers is of utmost importance to everyone at Dalata. There is a culture of continual learning at Dalata with a range of development programmes available for staff covering all aspects of working in a hotel and at all levels. This is a great time for anyone considering a career in hospitality. At Dalata we have a portfolio of 49 predominately four-star hotels including Maldron Hotels and Clayton Hotels.

“This year saw our first step into the continental European market in Düsseldorf and we have an exciting expansion pipeline with new hotels in Glasgow and Dublin opening this year as well as further new hotels under construction in Liverpool, Brighton, London and Manchester.

“We are very excited to further our relationship with ATU and the Galway International Hotel School which has already been a very fruitful relationship. Many GMIT alumni hold management and senior leadership positions in Dalata and many from our Graduate Programme have recently graduated from the university. This new partnership will allow us to further development our accreditation strategy in the Dalata Academy using the strong training culture which already exists and supporting it with the accreditation and academic excellence from ATU.

This agreement will bring the Dalata Academy to the next phase in our strategy at an important time for the group and the industry.”

The first course, which will launch this month, is a Special Purpose Award Certificate in Revenue Management led by Martha Mannion, Group Director of Rooms Revenue & Distribution.

Martha Mannion says: “This is an incredibly exciting and timely opportunity for Dalata to focus on revenue management as the distribution and technological landscape evolves within the industry. We are delighted to partner with ATU and commence this course with tailored content, initially offered to our General Managers to complement our culture of continual learning in Dalata”.

Cáit Noone, Head of the Galway International Hotel School (GIHS), welcomed the agreement saying she is looking forward to working with Dalata as the partnership develops. “GIHS have worked with Dalata since 2007 and many of our graduates hold senior leadership roles in this innovative and growing organisation. We hope to expand upon our partnership with Dalata as outlined in the agreement and we thank Aine Doyle and her colleagues for their continued engagement and support of all school activities over the last decade. This is an exciting time for anyone to join the tourism industry and GIHS students and graduates will have multiple opportunities with this leading organisation.”

For further information about programmes in the GIHS, see: https://www.gmit.ie/schools-campuses/galway-international-hotel-school/courses-galway-international-hotel-school. 

Photo caption: Cáit Noone, Head of the Galway International Hotel School, ATU; Áine Doyle, Head of Learning Academy, Dalata Hotels;, Dr Orla Flynn, President of Atlantic Technological University (ATU); Martha Manion, Director of Revenue Management Dalata Hotels.